U.S. Men 2022-23 news & updates

[Trillian]

I remembered how good the skating was but forgot how bad the judging was until I watched it just now. I can only assume I blacked out with rage the moment I saw that 5.1.

 

[VGThuy]

No to harsh on anyone's vibing trip down memory lane, but could y'all create an historic US Men's thread in the Trash Can?

I like popping in here for current news.

I get what you're saying, and I would agree, but if we're not looking back with nostalgia, we may be using this thread to beat another more current dead horse regarding a current U.S. competitive skater, one that was not so enjoyable to talk about this past week or so. Might as well let the new posts be something nice until actual news comes back on.

 

[Vagabond]

Some breaking news, just for @Karen-W

John Misha Petkevich's 1972 Worlds Free Skate is still available on YouTube.

 

[On My Own]

No to harsh on anyone's vibing trip down memory lane, but could y'all create an historic US Men's thread in the Trash Can?

I like popping in here for current news.

Well personally I like to show people what actually happens if they take 5 minutes to learn things they don't know

But I do agree that people like Matt deserve their own thread. Instead of being included with other """"technical"""" "artists". https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/us-men-of-the-past.110683/post-6427903

 

[Sylvia]

Joseph Klein's post today: https://www.instagram.com/p/CrjQtznPgLU/

Officially a Wildcat! I am so excited to announce my enrollment at Northwestern University! I plan to continue both my academic and athletic pursuits where it all started in Chicagoland. Since I attend an online high school, @baileyonixt made these graphics to post for my commitment! Go Cats!
#northwesternuniversity

 

[Sylvia]

Dinh Tran has a new SP to "L-O-V-E" by Nat King Cole - choreographer Misha Ge posted a photo on March 16: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp159EPOR9j/

Misha Ge also choreographed Dinh's FS to Tron - Legacy: https://www.instagram.com/p/CrjxY1nPQep/

And a FS to Phantom of the Opera for Daniil Murzin (4th in Junior at Nationals): https://www.instagram.com/p/CrhvqTFrHPQ/

 

[YukiNieve]

Cross-posting (Now we finally found out why David has been invited for Kana and Daisuke's shows ):

Ice Explosion 2023 (IE)
https://ice-explosion.com/
5/12-5/14 Fukuoka
Directed by Daisuke Takahashi

An article (in Japanese) titled as "Who is the mysterious foreign skater that Japanese fans are buzzing about?"

https://gendai.media/articles/-/109797?page=5
The article mainly looks back the details of 1st IE show that was held past January but discloses some tidbits about the 2nd show that takes place this May.

Many casts remain the same as 1st show except those who are performing for SOI.
New additions to the 2nd show are Shun Sato, Rinka Watanabe, and David Shapiro.

Kana: Dai-chan watched him (David) skate in Youtube and like "Wow, who is this kid!?" He told me that David is the exact type of what he thinks a captivating skater and he absolutely wanted to invite him for our show.
Daisuke: I just happened to see his skate in Youtube and as I was watching, I found it amazingly artistic skate and I thought, "who is this?" and looked him up and saw more of his performance. And I felt really wanting to invite him for our show and actually wanted to invite him for our January show, but I thought he might compete for US Nationals and, therefore, we did not ask. He was really surprised by our invitation, but told me "I am extremely happy that you, Daisuke, found me and invite me for your show from such a faraway country." I have not seen him skate in live yet and I am very looking forward to it.

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

Cross-posting (Now we finally found out why David has been invited for Kana and Daisuke's shows ):

Ice Explosion 2023 (IE)
https://ice-explosion.com/
5/12-5/14 Fukuoka
Directed by Daisuke Takahashi

An article (in Japanese) titled as "Who is the mysterious skater that Japanese fans are buzzing about?"

https://gendai.media/articles/-/109797?page=5
The article mainly looks back the details of 1st IE show that was held past January but discloses some tidbits about the 2nd show that takes place this May.

Many casts remain the same as 1st show except those who are performing for SOI.
New additions to the 2nd show are Shun Sato, Rinka Watanabe, and David Shapiro.

Kana: Dai-chan watched him (David) skate in Youtube and like "Wow, who is this kid!?" He told me that David is the exact type of what he thinks a captivating skater and he absolutely wanted to invite him for our show.
Daisuke: I just happened to see his skate in Youtube and as I was watching, it was amazingly artistic skate and I thought, "who is this?" and looked him up and saw more of his performance. And I felt really wanting to invite him for our show and actually wanted to invite him for our January show, but I thought he might compete for US Nationals and, therefore, we did not ask. He was really surprised by our invitation, but told me "I am extremely happy that you, Daisuke, found me and invite me for your show from such a faraway country." I have not seen him skate in live yet and I am very looking forward to it.

David Who?

 

[Sylvia]

David Who?

David Shapiro, now 24, who placed 9th of 18 Junior men at 2020 U.S. Nationals and was coached by Viktor Pfeifer at the time. He's a very artistic/expressive skater who competes for the University of Delaware figure skating team (and recently won the Junior Solo Dance event at the National Intercollegiate Final ahead of Karen Chen: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/collegiate-skating.110162/#post-6426958).

Posted on April 12 in the U.S. Men's thread:

David Shapiro skated to Moonlight Sonata at SCW Galaxy on Ice, where Johnny Weir did his final US performance. My friend shared her video with me. David's flexibility and gorgeous line have not changed!

David Shapiro, Moonlight Sonata 03_31_23

David Shapiro's performance of Moonlight Sonata at SCW Galaxy on Ice 03_31_23

www.youtube.com

(@YukiNieve I bumped up the Daisuke Takahashi's ICE EXPLOSION thread yesterday with the article link and have copied over your info. )

One week ago:

IMO, Alex Johnson still has "it" (choreography by Chris Jarosz & filmed by Jordan Cowan at Sky Rink in NYC): https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrO1tc7AOHb/

Just noticed that Alex's video in on OIP's YT channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNR_SVjssZ8

 

[YukiNieve]

(@YukiNieve I bumped up the Daisuke Takahashi's ICE EXPLOSION thread yesterday with the article link and have copied over your info. )

Sylvia, we almost simultaneously posted the same article in different threads, lol.
I loved his skate when I saw him competing for local competitions such as Chesapeake Open.
It is fascinating to know that Daisuke loved David's skate just by watching it in YouTube.
Hope that David will have a great time in Japan - I am sure he will!

 

[DreamSkates]

I guess some people here are having selective memory or are too young to have experienced all the attention on Jason and his lack of quads when he was closer to Ilia’s age. It was non-stop. He’s older now and Ilia is younger, so they’re not going to have the same expectations nor are people thinking Jason is in a place to be a champion whereas Ilia has those expectations. He’s also being compared more directly to competitors who have more scoring potential in GOE and PCS and who are not too behind in TES base value.

Didn’t people criticize Nathan Chen for lacking everything except quads? Yet he stepped up to the challenge of earning higher PCs. So I’m not worried about Ilia. And I continue to appreciate Jason in many ways. He can get high GOEs for some excellent jumps and he’s still competitive, remaining in the top of the men’s field.

 

[sheetz]

Didn’t people criticize Nathan Chen for lacking everything except quads? Yet he stepped up to the challenge of earning higher PCs. So I’m not worried about Ilia. And I continue to appreciate Jason in many ways. He can get high GOEs for some excellent jumps and he’s still competitive, remaining in the top of the men’s field.

Nathan is different in that he had many years of ballet in addition to good skating skills before he ever landed a quad. Current Ilia couldn't skate most of Nathan's junior programs.

 

[Sylvia]

April 2:

Rohene choreographed a new SP for Yaroslav Paniot.
Very excited to see what Rohene can show us a new side of Yaro!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cqiiz9tLGm3/

"Kiss" by Prince - according to this recent Rohene Q&A article that I've excerpted here (link also posted in the Rohene Ward appreciation thread I've created): https://twitter.com/SylviaUnseen/status/1655007888140562432

Re-posting here from the Club Ice Shows/Benefits thread re. 2022 U.S. Junior champ Kai Kovar (thanks @YukiNieve ):

Kai told my friend (an adult skater who also performed for the show) that he will keep SP and FS will be Fix You (not by Coldplay but by various artists) choreographed Alex Chang.

Kovar's SP last season was "Uprising" by Muse (assume Alex Chang choreographed?): https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/sports/figure-skating/roster/kai-kovar/664

Beck Strommer, 6th in Junior at 2023 Nationals, has a new Junior SP choreographed by him and Drew Meekins to "The Night We Met" by Lord Huron - clip he shared last week: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrtsyJDpYh4/

 

[Frau Muller]

I just found this piece of skating loveliness on YouTube:

David Shapiro, Moonlight Sonata 03_31_23

David Shapiro's performance of Moonlight Sonata at SCW Galaxy on Ice 03_31_23

www.youtube.com

What’s David Shapiro’s standing in US hierarchy (standing at last Nationals)? Move him up! Now I hope that my feisty jr fave, Kirk Haugeto, is working hard on his style and consistency! Lucas and David will be strong stylists.

 

[Sylvia]

April 30 in this thread:

David Who?

David Shapiro, now 24, who placed 9th of 18 Junior men at 2020 U.S. Nationals and was coached by Viktor Pfeifer at the time. He's a very artistic/expressive skater who competes for the University of Delaware figure skating team (and recently won the Junior Solo Dance event at the National Intercollegiate Final ahead of Karen Chen: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/collegiate-skating.110162/#post-6426958).

Posted on April 12 in the U.S. Men's thread [link to David's Moonlight Sonata SC of Wilmington show video]:

(@YukiNieve I bumped up the Daisuke Takahashi's ICE EXPLOSION thread yesterday with the article link and have copied over your info. )

@YukiNieve and I have been posting about David Shapiro in the Ice Explosion thread (his new EX program that he is performing in Japan - an amazing opportunity for him! - is linked in post #26 there): https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...ama-may-12-14-in-fukuoka.110288/#post-6431663

ETA that Shapiro also placed 7th of 12 Junior men at 2019 U.S. Nationals in Detroit.

 

[Frau Muller]

Oh…David Shapiro is 24….way above ISU junior skating age limit & well into senior age. Oh well, now in the professional-only level, likely.
Funny how a lot of the most artistic and musical skaters aren’t the most competitive ones, eg, Joanna Ng in the early ‘90s and a bunch of the pro skaters in the John Curry troupe. Different talents going in different directions.

 

[Sylvia]

ISP men who are attending USFS’ Jump camp that’s underway at the World Arena in Colorado Springs (Malinin is demonstrating again - this is where he landed his first “public” 4A a year ago) include:

Nicholas Brooks (landed his first 3A last month in practice: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrDz-KMrwlk/)
Joe Klein
Kai Kovar
Daniil Murzin
Jacob Sanchez

ETA that I’ve also posted in the U.S. Women’s news thread (post #659): https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/u-s-women-4-how-dare-you.110065/post-6432691

 

[Karen-W]

USFS’ Jump camp that’s underway at the World Arena in Colorado Springs (Malinin is demonstrating again - this is where he landed his first “public” 4A a year ago)

Jimmy Ma is also there demonstrating.

 

[Sylvia]

Tomoki's post tonight - "Worked with Mark Pillay for my Short Program! Thank you to @yorkregionskating [Richmond Hill, Ontario] for having me here and I hope I can skate here again!" https://www.instagram.com/p/CsKfUwGuNgo/

 

[Karen-W]

Per Drew Meekins IG story this morning, he's done choreo for Ilia this week - https://www.instagram.com/stories/drew_meekins/3101853852386613735/

 

[Sylvia]

Didn't Drew choreograph one of his show programs last year?

Ilia's known show schedule:
U.S. Stars on Ice, May 20-June 4 (8 shows)
Dreams on Ice in Japan, June 30-July 2 (4 shows)
The Ice tour in Japan, July 22-Aug. 4 (12 shows in 4 cities)

Jason is also doing U.S. SOI & The Ice (Nathan, too).

 

[Rukia]

Per Drew Meekins IG story this morning, he's done choreo for Ilia this week - https://www.instagram.com/stories/drew_meekins/3101853852386613735/

I'm eyes emoji-ing this too as I'm mildly intrigued

 

[Karen-W]

Didn't Drew choreograph one of his show programs last year?

Ilia's known show schedule:
U.S. Stars on Ice, May 20-June 4 (8 shows)
Dreams on Ice in Japan, June 30-July 2 (4 shows)
The Ice tour in Japan, July 22-Aug. 4 (12 shows in 4 cities)

Jason is also doing U.S. SOI & The Ice (Nathan, too).

I think Drew did do the choreo for one of his show programs, yes. Personally, I'm really hoping he did choreo for one of his competitive programs this coming season.

 

[YukiNieve]

Too busy to explain the details of this interesting article about Jason, so I just quote a few sentences. He was interviewed when the ITNY honored him last week. It seems that Jason has clearly decided to keep competing next season.

「諦める必要はない」ジェイソン・ブラウンが現役続行を決意した“両親からの涙の電話”「来季もショーと競技を続けていく」《独占インタビュー》（田村明子）

ニューヨークを拠点に活動している氷上のパフォーマンス団体「アイスシアターオブニューヨーク」。ここでは毎年春に行われるガラ公演で、これまでフィギュアスケートに貢献してきた人物を表彰してきたが、今年はジェイソン・ブラウンが選ばれた。また長年彼の振

number.bunshun.jp

"When I called my parents after the Beijing Olympic Games, they asked me crying, 'Is it really over (for you)?' At the time, I thought that was fine. Now I feel as if I finished one book and now I am writing a sequel."

Last season, he returned to Toronto to train several times, spending two weeks each time, including before the US Nationals.

"I did it this way on a trial basis this season and my coaches told me it was a success. I will not be able to compete for a full season, but will probably continue to do shows and compete at the same pace next season as I did this season. Maybe I will compete in a Senior B (CS-level) competition before the US Nationals to get ready, but I will discuss that with my coaches as well."

 

[misskarne]

YAY! More Jason!!!!!!! I feel so lucky!

 

[Sylvia]

I've posted machine translated excerpts from @YukiNieve's article link in Jason's fan thread (includes fan cams from his ITNY performance on Monday, May 8). Another excerpt:

For this season's competition, he abandoned his focus on quads and focused on performing his own artistic program. On the other hand, current U.S. champion Ilia Malinin is an amazing jumper who can jump 4 axels, but he still has a long way to go in terms of expressiveness. It's interesting to see two contrasting figures, Malinin from Jump and Jason, an artist, at the top of the US charts.
“Age experience is also very important in this sport. Even when I was 18, my components (scores) were not that high (compared to what I get now). I think it's exciting to have players pushing from both sides."
Twenty-eight-year-old Jason defended Malinin, who was 10 years younger.

The Future of Storytellers on Ice
Patrick Chan, whom I [Akiko Tamura] interviewed the other day [links are posted in his "Chantastic" fan thread], said that with the current scoring system, it has become almost impossible to express stories on ice. Even so, Jason is one of the few storytellers on ice.
“For me, it has always been my goal to tell stories on the ice. I rested and didn't know how the judges would grade me.But I'm happy that my performance was appreciated.There are many athletes who were pushed out of the competition because they couldn't land six quads. But I want to tell you that you don't have to give up."

ETA: I've replaced the original machine translated sentence with @YukiNieve's translation (now bolded above).

 

[Spiralgraph]

quote "Even when I was 18, the components weren’t expensive [what's a better adjective here?]."

To answer the question here (don't know who asked though) "expansive" is most likely the better word.

 

[Karen-W]

Seems like a good plan for Jason, competitively-speaking.

 

[On My Own]

Should mean "not high".

 

[YukiNieve]

quote "Even when I was 18, the components weren’t expensive [what's a better adjective here?]."

The original article says “Even when I was 18, my components (scores) were not that high (compared to what I get now).”